Baking apparatus



July 10, 1951 T. H. SARCHET ,8

BAKING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 26, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l II G21 117 la l 5 9 IN V EN TOR.

Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BAKING APPARATUS Thomas Hal Sarchet, Spokane, Wash. Application Augllst 26, 1949, Serial No. 112,434

4 Claims.

This'invention relates to a wafile iron or to related baking and toasting apparatus. More specifically, the invention pertains towaflle or toasting apparatus conventionally employing a pair of oppositely-disposed, electrically-heated baking surfaces or grids.

The present invention has as one of its objects the provision of means for terminating the baking operation at the expiration of a predetermined time interval.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically pre-heating the baking grids prior to the baking operation.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of means for separating the opposed baking grids in two or more successive stages.

Another object of this invention lies in the provision of hydraulic means for controlling the time interval of the baking operation.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following specification when read in the light of the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a waille iron or baking apparatus, showing the arrangement of the baking grids and other elements when the apparatus is operative;

Figure 2 is a front elevation, partially in crosssection, showing the relative positions of the actuating and control elements;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, disclosing the positions of the control and actuating elements when in their operative positions;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3, showing the relative positions of the grids, actuating and control elements during an intermediate stage of the baking operation;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3, showing the component parts of the apparatus at the initial step of the baking operation;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 2 designates, in general, an automatic waflle iron or baking apparatus constructed according to this invention. The apparatus comprises a housinghaving a base 4, an elongated vertical back wall 6, vertical side walls 8 and I0 secured to and positioned at right angles to the back wall 6, an intermediate wall [2 positioned between side walls 8 and ID, the intermediate wall l2 connecting with back wall 6 and being parallel to side walls 8 and I0, and a front panel I4 extending between and secured to inter-" mediate wall I2 and sidewall l0. Panel I4 is parallel to back wall 6. The housing 2 is completed by a top or closure plate I6 whichextends across the top or upper edges of back wall 6, side wall H), intermediate wall l2, and front panel I4, forming a closed compartment l5. 1

Preferably, housing 2 is formed of metal, though other suitable materials may be employed, and the component parts thereof may be secured in their relative positions by any means well known in the art.

As seen in Figure 2, side wall 8 is provided with a pair of vertically-spaced,apertures l8 and 20 in alignment with vertically-spaced apertures 22 and 24, respectively, formed in intermediate wall l2 bne end of a shaft 26 is rotatively supported,

in aperture l8, while the other end is rotatably mounted in aperture 22 and is of sufficient length to project substantially half-way (see Figure 2) across chamber l5. In a similar manner, shaft elements and leads (not shown), the grids beingfixedly secured to shafts 26 and 28, respectively,

to rotate therewith. Both grids are disposed be-;

tween walls 8 and I2, and above base 4. Upper grid 30 is also provided with a handle 3|.

Rigidly secured to the under side of the top- It are two oppositely-disposed, L-shaped angle brackets 34 and 36having depending arms 38 and 40, respectively, each of the arms being aper tured to receive a pivot pin 42. Adjacent its upper end, a lever bar 44 is pivotally mounted on pin 42, the barbeing free to rotate in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of shafts 26 and 28.

As is more clearly shown in Figures 2 to 5, in-

clusive, a transverse passage 46 is formed in lever bar 44 intermediate its ends. The lower end of lever bar 44 is notched to provide an abutment, 48 to limitthe pivotal movement in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 3 to 5, of a cam] lever 50 provided with a cam surface 54, the cam lever being connected with the lowerend of lever bar 44 by pivot pin 52.

. One end of a lock-bar 56 is rigidlysecured on that end of shaft 28 which projects within com partment I5. The free end 58 of lock-bar 56 is notched at spaced, stepped intervals 80 and 62 and is enlarged at 63.

Lever bar 44 and lock-bar 55 are aligned and adapted to swing in substantially the same plane. Lock-bar 56 is displaced rearwardly from lever bar 44 a distance sufiicient to permit free end 58 and the notched portionBiI to enter passage 46, while notch 62 formed in the enlargement 63 is of too great a size to be slidably received in passage 46.

A pair of spaced, radially-projecting switch arms and 59 extend from lock-bar 56 adjacent its connection with shaft 28. The function of these arms is described below.

A lever bar 64 has one of its ends rigidly secured to that end of the shaft 26 which projects with-, in compartment I5, and the lower end of the former is notched to form an abutment Biipreventing clockwise movement, as viewed in Figures'3 tub, of a cam lever 681i As is seen in the drawings, cam lever 68 is pivotally mounted on the-lower end of lever bar 64 by pin I8; and is providedwith a cam: surface I2.

A longitudinally-extending pocket i4 is formed inlever bar 64 adjacent its lower end, the pocket fixedly receiving one endof a leaf spring I6, the other end of the spring engaging against cam lever 58 at a point beyond pivotpin I0. Thus,

spring I6 constantly tends tourge cam lever 63 in a clockwise'direction about its pivot pin I0.

An libhaped' hook I8 has an arm 83 rigidly secured by studs 8| to lever bar 64 intermediate the ends thereof, while afoot portion 82 projects laterally from lever bar 64- (see Figure 2) to' engage behind lock-bar 56.

In Figures 2 and 3, it is seen that with grid 30 in its operative position, foot 82 engages against back wall 5 to effectively prevent further downward movement of the grid.

Referring now more specifically to Figure 6, a hydraulic pump 84 is mounted on standards 83 and comprises a cylindrical casing 96 having an opening 88 adjacent end wall I00, and a second openin 90 adjacent end wall IiII, the openings being interconnected by conduit 92.

A vertical plate 94' projects inwardly from casing 96 adjacent end wall I03 and is of a length less than the diameter of the casing, to form a passage 98. Plate 94 and end wall I08 cooperate to form a guide for gravity-operated valve I02 having valveseat I94 communicating with opening 88.

Apertures I 06 and I08, diametrically opposite openings 88 and 90, respectively are interconnected by conduit IIEJ, valve H4 and conduit II2. Valve I I4 is controlled by handle I I6, sweeping across a scale II'I embossed on panel I4, andis connected with the handle by shaft H8.

A reciprocating piston I operates within casing 96 between plate 94 and end wall I0 I. One end of a piston rod I22 is connected with piston I20, and the other end thereof projects through end wall IBI and is slidably mounted in support I24. A helicoidal spring I25 is mounted around rod" I22 and engages, at one of its ends, the support I24. The other end of the spring abuts a collar I28 slidably mounted on rod I22, which, in'turn, is in constant contact with a bell crank lever I30.

The bell crank lever I 30 is pivoted adjacent one- I38, the latter being bent parallel to bell crank lever I30. A roller I49 is rotatably supported on leg I38 and bell crank lever I39. As seen in Figure 2, the roller is disposed transversely across the rotational planes of lever bars 54 and 64, and the arcuate path traced by roller I43 is such as to permit it to intersect the arcuate paths traced by either of the lever bars 44 or 64.

Bell crank lever I3!) is connected to piston rod I22 by means of the rigid pin I42 carriedby piston rod I22, the pin being slidably mounted in slot I44 formed in bell crank lever I33. Movement in either direction of piston rod I22 imparts: a corresponding arcuate movement of bell crank. lever I39 and the roller I carried there- A. switch I48 having an actuating toggle I50 disposed, in the path of arcuate movement of switch arms 51 and 59 is secured to back wall 6. Leads (not shown) connect conventional heating elements ofgrids Bil-and 32' with switch I48, and leads I52 and I54 connect the latter with switch;

I53 provided with a manually-operated toggle: I53. Power cable I63 connects-switch I56 witha.

suitable source of electrical energy.

Having described the component elements of been discharged therefrom. Grid. 30 remains in:

the position shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive. Cable I33 has beenfconnected with. arsource of electrical energy, switch I56 hasbeen closedand toggle I50; has been moved upwardly to open switch I 48 interrupting the flow of current to the;

heating elementsof grids 3Ilv and.32. Bell crank lever." I33 has, movedato its dotted line position, as shown in Figurefnthe, free end 58. of bar 56 is disengaged fromlever' bar- 44 and has: pivoted downwardly? to a1 position in front: of foot portion 82 .ofv1hookl8; Lever bar 34, now free'of bar 56,-

has pi'votedtoa vertical position-under the force of'gravity.

Lever bar 64 retains the position shown in Figures3and4.

Handle 3| of grid 30 is now grasped bytheoperator; and-- the grid is? rotated upwardly to the substantially vertical positionshown in full lines in Figure 5. As thisoperation is carriedout, foot 82-engagesbehind bar 53 rotating it-upwardl-y until its-free endElB- slides within passage 46 in locking: engagement with notch 62. As bar 56 is rigidly secured to shaft 28 on which grid3-2 is fixedly mounted, grid-32 is moved-to its horizontal position and. maintained therein by the locking connection of lever bar 44' andbar 56? downwardlyto engage toggle I50; closing switch I43. to complete the circuit to the heating elementsof grids3iland32.

During the upward movement of lever bar 64, camelever. 68. engages against roller wand-pivots on pin I0 to permit lever bar 64 to continue its arcuate path. V

Batter is. then placed ongrid32, andgrid 30 is rotated downwardly to the position. shownin. Figuresl, 2 and 3. Asv this operationis carried. out, lever bar I54, is rotated downwardly to bring cam surface I2 of cam lever SSinto'contact with roller I49 (see Figure5) Since abutment 66 prevents camlever 6.8 from rotating in a clockwise direction, roller I40 andbell crank lever I30are forced to pivot-clockwise about pivot I32 (see Fig.- ure'fi).

As grid. 32 assumes this position, switch arm 57 is-rotated The rotation of bell crank lever I30 produces relative movement of pin I42 in slot I44, moving piston rod I22 and piston I laterally to the right as shown in Figures 3 and 6.

As roller I40 is moved through its arcuate path, it engages against cam lever 50 which pivots on pin 52on lever bar 44, thereby permitting roller I40 to pass beneath lever bar 44.

The arcuate paths of roller I4 and lever bar 54 diverge as grid 30 gradually approaches its operative position, and cam surface of cam lever 50 is withdrawn from engagement with roller I40, whereby tension spring I now exerts its force on collar I28 which engages against bell crank lever I30. The force effects a counterclockwise movement of bell crank lever I and reverses the direction of the movement of piston rod I22 and piston I20.

As piston I20 moves laterally to the left, as viewed in Figure 6, fluid in casing 06 forces valve I02 to seat, and the fluid is also forced through conduit I I0, valve II4, conduit H2, and returns to the other side of the piston I20.

Control of the rate of flow is established by manipulation of valve II4 by manually-operated handle H6, and this control establishes the predetermined time interval for the baking operation as will be made clear.

As roller I gradually retraces its arcuate path in the reverse direction, it approaches and engages against cam surface 54 of cam lever 50. Abutment 48 prevents the cam lever from pivoting on pin 52, and hence, lever bar 44 is slowly pivoted clockwise on pin 42. Continued movement of roller I40 and lever bar 44 results in the disengagement of notch 62 from lever bar 44 and the engagement of notch 60 therewith.

Since grid 32 is supported in its operative position by the interlocking engagement of bar 55 with lever bar 44, the grid 32 pivots slightly downwardly away from grid 30 by the force of gravity when the disengagement takes place to permit the waflle to loosen. I

Further relative movement of roller I40 and lever bar 44 disengages notch 00 from bar 44. freeing the end 58 from passage 46, and grid 32 then rotates downwardly to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, and the waflle is discharged therefrom.

In accompaniment with this operation, bar

rotates counterclockwise and rotates switch arm 59 into engagement with toggle I50 to open switch I48, thereby breaking the circuit to the heating elements of grids 30 and 32.

Lever bar 44, under gravity, returns to its vertical position, and bell crank lever I30 moves to its dotted line position shown in Figure 5. The apparatus is then in readiness to repeat the baking cycle.

To obtain consistent results, the operator should, when baking the initial wafIie, close valve II4 for a short period to permit the grids to achieve their proper baking temperature.

It is to be understood that while but one form of the invention has been described and illustrated, the same has been offered merely by way of example, and the scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Baking apparatus comprising a base, supports mounted on said base, a pair of shafts rotatably mounted on said supports, a baking grid mounted on each of said shafts and rotatable therewith, said grids being rotatable toward and away from each other to baking and non-baking positions, a bar notched at one of its ends and having the other end thereof fixedly secured to one of said shafts for rotation therewith, a lever bar having one of its ends pivotally supported above said base and having a transverse passage therethrough, said notched end of said bar being received within said passage and engaging against said lever bar to lock one of said grids in its baking position, and means iengag ing the other end of said lever bar for pivoting said leverv .bar"out-"of locking engagement with said bar, whereby said one grid moves to its inoperative position. Y Y

2. Baking apparatus comprising a base, supports mounted on said base, a pair of shafts rotatably mounted on said supports, a baking grid mounted on each of said shafts and rotatable therewith, said grids being rotatable toward and away from each other to baking and nonbaking positions, a bar having one of its ends fixedly secured on one of said shafts and having a plurality of stepped notches formed in the other of its ends, a lever bar pivotally mounted at one of its ends above said base, said lever bar having a transverse passage therethrough, said notched end of said bar being received within said passage and having one of said notches in engagement with said lever bar to lock one of said grids in a first baking position, means engaging against the other end of said lever bar to successively disengage and engage other of said notches with said lever bar to support said one grid in other baking positions, and said lastnamed means disengaging said lever bar from said bar whereby said one grid rotates to its non-baking position.

3. Baking apparatus comprising a base, supports mounted on said base, a pair of shafts rotatably supported on said supports, a pair of baking grids having electric heating elements respectively mounted on said shafts, said grids being rotatable toward and away from each other to baking and non-baking positions, a pair of switch-operating arms mounted for rotation with one of said shafts, a switch sup-' ported on said base, an electric circuit including said heating elements and said switch, means on the other of said shafts for rotating said one shaft and associated grid to baking position and simultaneously actuating one of said switch arms to close said switch to energize said heating elements as the grid associated with the other of said shafts is rotated to non-baking position, means operable upon the return of said last-named grid to its baking position for controlling the heating period for said grids, and means operable after a predetermined interval of time for actuating the other of said switch arms to open said switch and de-energize said heating elements.

4. Baking apparatus comprising a base, supports mounted on said base, a pair of shafts rotatably mounted on said supports, a baking grid mounted on each of said shafts and rotatable therewith, said grids being rotatable toward each other into baking positions and away from each other intonon-baking positions, a bar having one of its ends fixedly secured to one of said shafts for rotation therewith, a lever bar having one of its ends pivotally supported above said base and engageable intermediate its ends with the other end of said bar when the shaft carrying the latter bar has been rotated in a direction to cause movement of its baking grid toward and into the baking position, and means engaging the other end of said d lever, bar for effecting. the movement of said 1ever bar out. of engagement with said bar whereby said. one grid is. moved into its. non-baking position.

THOMAS HAL. SARCHET.

REFERENCES CITED The, following references are of record in the file, of. this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 474,601 Horan May 10, 1892 Number 3 I Name Date Messmer Feb., 26,. 19.18 Carter Jan. 1.7, 1928 Criner June,9,,193,1 Wharton Oct 30,1934 Schal-les Nov. 6,, 1,934 Schara- Apr. 2.0, 1 943,, Weeks Mar, 21, 194A Huck Nov, 20, 1945 Pappas; Jan.. 22,1946 

